Delegates at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors Annual Conference in Galway have passed a motion calling for the full time arming of Regional Support Units (RSUs ).
The motion which was brought by the Galway Branch of the AGSI and backed by Cork City, Cork West, Westmeath, Meath, and Kildare branches, is in response to concerns over rising crime rates and the need for the RSU across the country to be able to respond more rapidly to incidents involving firearms.
During the conference, which began last Monday, there were a number of motions discussed but it was the arming of the RSUs that proved to be a thorny issue, however, despite opposition from the executive it was passed yesterday by a majority vote. The National Executive will now lobby the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and the Minister of Justice Dermot Ahern on the issue. If authorised it will be a radical departure for the Garda Siochana whose ethos since its inception has revolved around being and unarmed force.
AGSI spokesperson Austin Kenny told the Advertiser: “The RSUs are a small highly trained team attached to each region. They work full time in the regular Garda uniform and cars but if called on to respond to an emergency situation, such as an armed robbery or shooting, they are notified and have to change out of their uniform, into jackets which say ‘Armed garda’, take out firearms from a locked safe in their vehicles, prime them, and then get to the scene. This all takes time. The experience of these units has meant that this delay should be highlighted.
“The motion called for the RSUs to be upgraded in armed mode all the time. If the Commissioner agrees it will mean having a uniformed section operating in armed mode. The National Executive will now look at the wording of the motion, the best way to pursue the issue, and make representations to the Commissioner and to the Minister of Justice if changes in the legislation are needed. They will be submitting a list of requirements and will be asking for a meeting to discuss them. This will all be done in the coming weeks,” said Mr Kenny.
At present there are two RSUs, one in the eastern region and one in the southern region, covering Cork and Limerick, they have some 60 members combined. Earlier this year it was announced that the new Western Regional Support Unit is to be based in Salthill. Two further units are planned.
